Appendix C. Installing Linux on Digital/Compaq Alpha Systems

by Barrett G. Lyon, Lar Kaufman, and Richard Payne

In 1992, Digital introduced a 64-bit, superscaler, RISC-based architecture called the Alpha, winning impressive reviews in the industry for speed. Linux is an attractive alternative to the official operating systems shipped with the Alpha. But installation varies from system to system because the Alpha has evolved rapidly and has been shipped over the years with a wide variety of hardware and firmware (startup programs stored in ROM). This appendix is an introduction to the main issues and tasks in installing Linux, but you will also need to carefully read the documents for Linux installation and your hardware, and show a somewhat adventurous willingness to experiment.